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Council suspends The Groucho Club’s license
The famed Soho members’ club has been temporarily closed and had its license suspended by Westminster City Council as the Metropolitan Police investigates claims of a “serious crime” which took place on the premises.
Launched in 1985, The Groucho Club has gone on to accrue a number of celebrity members, including the likes of Stephen Fry and Noel Gallagher.
However, Westminster City Council has taken the decision to suspend the club’s license “with immediate effect” following a request from the Metropolitan Police.
“This decision follows reports that a serious crime may have taken place at the premises in circumstances linked to a breach in the premises licensing conditions,” a spokesperson for the council explained. “The allegations are subject to an ongoing police investigation and we cannot comment further at this stage.”
The nature of the crime has not been disclosed.
A notice, titled Application for Review of Premises License Section 53A Licensing Act 2003, has been displayed in a window of the Dean Street establishment, explaining that The Groucho Club has until 9 December to make a representation to the Licensing Authority.
Its license has been suspended for 28 days, with a hearing due to take place before Christmas. The club will remain closed until this point at the earliest.
The Groucho Club isn’t the only high profile venue to have its license suspended by Westminster City Council of late, with LGBTQ+ nightclub Heaven also being temporarily closed, with a licensing hearing due to go ahead next month. In that case, the suspension was the result of a woman allegedly being raped near the Charing Cross venue by a member of the security staff.
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